‘Resolve, To Identify Chemicals of High Concern and To Establish a Framework for State Action’
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. Chemicals of high concern. Resolved: That, by October 1, 2008, the Department of Environmental Protection, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, jointly referred to in this resolve as "the state agencies," shall prepare a list of chemicals of high concern. A chemical may be included on the list only if it has been identified by an authoritative governmental agency on the basis of credible scientific evidence as being known as:
1. A carcinogen, a reproductive or developmental toxicant or an endocrine disruptor;
2. Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic; or
3. Very persistent and very bioaccumulative.
For each chemical on the list, the state agencies shall identify any existing or needed scientific risk assessments required to determine human health effects at relevant exposure levels; and be it further
Sec. 2. Stakeholders group. Resolved: That, by October 15, 2008, the state agencies shall convene a stakeholders group, which must include at least one independent nationally recognized expert recommended by the Society of Toxicology, to review the list of chemicals of high concern and to provide recommendations to the state agencies on additional chemicals that should be added to the list and recommendations on chemicals that should be removed from the list. After consideration of the information provided by the stakeholders group, the state agencies may revise the list of chemicals of high concern; and be it further
Sec. 3. Collaboration with federal agencies. Resolved: That, by November 15, 2008, the state agencies shall consult with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, jointly referred to in this resolve as "the federal agencies," regarding the scope of current and planned federal activity relating to the safety of chemicals used in consumer products. The state agencies shall also seek comment from the federal agencies on the list of chemicals of high concern. The state agencies shall use the information provided by the federal agencies to identify areas where action by the State is practical and necessary; and be it further
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That, by February 1, 2009, the state agencies shall submit to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters a report detailing the collaborative efforts between the federal agencies and the state agencies. The report must also include recommendations for state action relating to the regulation of chemicals in consumer products, specific details of resources available to the state agencies to implement the recommendations and budget projections for implementing the recommendations for the next 2 bienniums; and be it further
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF
Remediation and Waste Management 0247
Initiative: Provides funds for a limited-period Toxicologist position, contractual services and general operating expenses required to carry out the purposes of this Act. The position end date is June 12, 2009.
| GENERAL FUND | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|
Personal Services
|
$0 | $77,259 |
|
All Other
|
$0 | $83,673 |
 |
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $0 | $160,932 |
summary
This amendment is the minority report. The amendment replaces the bill with a resolve. It directs the Department of Environmental Protection, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, to develop a list of chemicals of high concern. It requires the department and the center to convene a stakeholders group to gather recommendations on the list. It requires the department and the center to consult with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding the safety of chemicals used in consumer products and to identify areas where action by the State is practical and necessary. Finally, it requires the department and the center to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters regarding their collaborative efforts and adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)